Las Vegas Weekly

January 14, 2009 · 9:52 AM

2009 CES deemed a major success despite slumping economy

By Robin Leach

Kevin Lee and Noel Lee of Monster, Dr. Dre and Interscope-Geffen-A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine hold Beats by Dr. Dre headphones.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The buyers and sellers of gadgets and gizmos at the giant Consumer Electronics Show have all left town after the final weekend spree of selling. Only the statisticians are left, and they have just revealed the first figures -- and, despite the doomsayers, things turned out to be a major success.

More than 2,700 global companies, including 300 new exhibitors, unveiled 20,000 new technology products. New trends unveiled at the 2009 CES included 3D HDTV and advances in green technologies, Internet TV and digital entertainment.

“Despite a subdued economy, there was an all-time high of great excitement on the show floor with the sheer volume of innovative products, the large number of senior-level executives from the consumer technology and related industries, international participation from companies and government officials, and the partnerships and deals at the show,” Consumer Electronics Association President Gary Shapiro said. “More consumer technology business deals start at the International CES than any other event on Earth. The success of the 2009 International CES gives us optimism that innovation will restart the world’s economic engine.”

Some of the ground-breaking technologies included the Palm Pre, Sony’s flexible OLED display, 3D HDTV, Yahoo!’s TV Widget, LG’s Watch Phone, a 1/3-inch energy-efficient Plasma HDTV from Panasonic, and Microsoft’s announcement of Windows 7.

Among the VIPs attending this year were Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, Sony’s Sir Howard Stringer, Ford’s Allan Mulally, Intel’s Dr. Craig Barrett, Cisco’s John Chambers, Tom Hanks, Alex Trebek, Jimmy Fallon, Stevie Wonder, Dr. Dre, Soulja Boy Tell ’Em, Akon, Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz, Robert Parish, Usher, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Reggie Jackson, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Ludacris.

Preliminary estimates have attendance at the 2009 International CES at more than 110,000, with the final, verified number to be released in 90 days. At the close last year, the estimate was 130,000 attendees, but the verified final audit showed 141,150.

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